We have experienced a quarter century of high school football since the year 2000, and we have been celebrating accordingly with our QUARTER CENTURY TEAMS.
In continuing with that theme, I decided to tackle the quest of identifying the top game every year in the Summit Athletic Conference, reaching out to former players, coaches and those who experienced these games as they happened.
I hope this list brings back some memories!
Here is Part I from 2000 to 2007.
2000 – BISHOP LUERS 14, SNIDER 0, SEPT. 29
Everyone is excited for the new millennium, but perhaps no other team was more excited for this than the Bishop Luers Knights. In their storied history, the Knights had never beaten the mighty Panthers, who even at this point were the bell cow of the conference, riding a streak of three-straight SAC championships. That was until this night, where the Knights finally overcame those demons and earned dub No. 1 over the Panthers in their 15th matchup of all-time dating back to 1977.
Interestingly, this win helped pave the way for the Knights to capture the SAC championship in 2000, their fifth in school history and first since 1993 despite not having beaten Snider prior to this night.
2001 – CARROLL 27, BISHOP DWENGER 19, OCT. 26
Yeah OK, cheating a bit here because the Chargers weren’t in the SAC at this point (RIP, Northeast Hoosier), but the historical significance of this game cannot be understated.
First, this was a true David v. Goliath game because at the time the Chargers weren’t the massive Class 6A institution we know they are today, but rather a county school in 4A trying to make their mark against a perennial champion in the conference. Carroll coach Mike Cheviron’s team was led by current Charger offensive coordinator Andy Papagiannis. One week later, Carroll would capture its second sectional crown in program history by beating Concord.
Meanwhile, this was the last game for Bishop Dwenger coach Andy Johns, who compiled a record of 191-68 in leading the Saints from 1980 to 2001.
2002 – CONCORDIA 35, HARDING 27, NOV. 8
Through the 1990s and 2000s, the SAC was dominated by the same three or four teams each year, while the rest were living in a state of mediocrity. But 2002 was different when former Northrop coach and Concordia grad Dean Doerffler led the Cadets to their first-ever sectional championship, a road win over Harding after falling to the Hawks by one point just a month earlier in Week 8.
The fairy tale continued for Concordia one week later when it beat South Bend St. Joseph in the snow to earn its first regional crown. Even with a hard-fought loss to Andrean in semistate, Concordia football was put firmly on the map in 2002 with its nine wins setting a program record for a single season.
2003 – ELMHURST 27, BISHOP DWENGER 23, AUG. 22
Undoubtedly the most significant game in the SAC in the last 25 years, and you could argue one of the greatest results ever seen in northeast Indiana prep football history.
Bishop Dwenger entered 2003 ranked the No. 1 team in Class 4A, while Elmhurst was riding a 64-game losing streak, considered by some the worst ongoing drought in the nation. The futility was so well known that rumors are David Letterman almost brought them on his late show to “honor” them.
However, the streak ended on that warm August night as Coach Roosevelt Norfleet’s team, led by eventual NFL player James Hardy, held off a furious fourth-quarter Bishop Dwenger comeback and ended one of the longest losing streaks in the history of high school sports.
Anyone around back then remembers that night, which started as a sparse crowd at Zollner Stadium before more and more arrived throughout the course of the game as word spread that something special was happening. While Bishop Dwenger was shorthanded due to some players being suspended for the game, it took nothing away from Elmhurst’s triumph, which saw plenty oftears and hugs on the field after.
Despite his many accolades on the gridiron and basketball court, many think of this night when people remember Hardy, who tragically passed away in 2017. Sweaty and exhausted, but with a beaming smile, Hardy epitomized what it meant for Elmhurst to end “the streak.”
Also of note, this was the first game played in the then-newly renovated Zollner Stadium.
2004 – SNIDER 40, CARMEL 22, NOV. 12
One of the best programs in our area is Snider, and there is no more of a legend of the last 25 years then Coach Russ Isaacs. Now, if you’ve been anywhere around the state you know of the history of the Carmel Greyhounds, one of the largest and wealthiest schools anywhere. The school has more championships amongst its athletic programs than the majority of the conferences in the entire state
Many people love to talk about the 2004 Panthers team, and this game best exemplifies what they were about. Up to this point, Snider had rolled through its season, with no game being decided by less than 28 points.
This matchup in regionals was supposed to knock the Panthers down to size. Several Indianapolis media outlets picked the Greyhounds, 8-4 entering the matchup, to upset the Panthers. Trailing 14-9 at half, in typical ‘Ike’ style, Isaacs gave a speech for the ages. The specifics vary, but references to “cold burgers, soggy French fries and watered-down orange drink” as the only things to look forward to that night is a stalwart of the story. Whatever the exact words, Ike’s speech worked, as Snider rallied for a 40-22 victory and an eventual trip to state.
2005 – SOUTH SIDE 23, BISHOP DWENGER 13, NOV. 5
If you are from Fort Wayne and you haven’t heard about the 2005 South Side team, I want to know where you’ve been. Coach Matt Land’s legendary Archer team won 11 games and sectional and regional championships that year, but it was this game that best represented that squad.
After losing to the Saints by 21 points in the regular season, South knew it would get to face them again. Led by quarterback and linebacker Quinton Scott, the Archers took down the mighty Saints to capture its second sectional in program history.
One week later, the Archers knocked off Delta to earn its first and only regional title in football.
2006 – CONCORDIA 21, SNIDER 17, AUG. 18
If you didn’t know about Armando Bustamante, you certainly did after that opening night in August of 2006. Bustamante led the Cadets running and throwing the ball in 2006, he moved to quarterback for this season. He accounted for all of Concordia’s touchdowns and led the Cadets to a monumental upset over the Panthers.
When push comes to shove, this was one of the biggest upsets at the time. Concordia had lost 22 straight games to Snider dating back to 1973 prior to the victory, which was one of the most exciting SAC games in history.
2007 – LOWELL 10, BISHOP DWENGER 7, NOV. 16
Bishop Dwenger was a machine in the mid-2000s, but Lowell was its nemesis at times.
An undefeated Saints squad hit the road for this semistate matchup, and it lived up to the hype. Senior John Goodman. Junior Tyler Eifert. This team was stupid good.
But Lowell held the offense in check. Despite a phenomenal individual effort from senior Greg Svarczkopf on defense (including a sack at the 1-yard lin), Lowell was able to drive down in a tie game and kick the winning field goal from 31 yards out with less than seven seconds remaining.
Revenge would be sweet a year later when the Saints beat Lowell to go to the state championship.
COMING LATER THIS WEEK – PART II
Coaches Corner appears weekly at Outside the Huddle. The author Ben Martone played football in the SAC and has coached at North Side and Northrop. He is currently a teacher at Weisser Park Elementary in Fort Wayne Community Schools.
You got to go back further than 25 years man them Snider teams in 90 thru 97 and a lot of other schools in the SAC back than